DAY 17: GOD CHOSE RUTH

 THE RHEMA WORD FOR TODAY

(A DAILY DEVOTIONAL WITH PREACHER SAM)

 

TOPIC: GOD CHOSE RUTH

DATE: 17 SEPTEMBER, 2020

BIBLE READING: RUTH 1

MEDITATION/MEMORY VERSE: MATTHEW 1:5 (NIV)

… Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth…

 

The genealogy of Jesus in Matthew’s gospel and Luke’s seem to be different but both agreed from the lineage of David (Matt. 1:2-6; Lk. 3:32-34), the reason is because Matthew’s account is giving the genealogy of Joseph while Luke gives the genealogy of Mary. This is borne out by the fact that in Matthew’s account, the virgin conception account is told from Joseph’s perspective in Matthew 1:18-25; while Luke, who most likely gathers much of his information from eyewitness (including Mary), told the virgin conception account from Mary’s perspective (Lk. 1:1-4). So Matthew gave the genealogy of Joseph and Luke followed the Hebraic traditional form of genealogies by listing only male names in which Mary is designated by her husband’s name. Furthermore, the Hebrews used the word ‘son’ in different sense; referring to:

-          One generation (cf. Matt. 1:6).

-          A remote descendant, such as a grandson, great-grandson, etc. (cf. Matt. 1:1; 21:9; 22:42).

-          A son-in-law (cf. 1 Sam. 24:16; 26:17). This makes sense in the context that Joseph was the ‘son’ (son-in-law) of Heli (Lk. 3:23).

-          A stepson who took on the legal status of his stepfather, which is what Jesus was to Joseph (cf. Matt. 13:55; Mk. 6:3; Lk. 3:23; 4:22; Jn. 6:42).

But our focus is not on the genealogy of Jesus but on Ruth. Ruth is one of the four women listed in the genealogy of Jesus, and apart from the mother of Jesus, Jesus’ ancestresses mentioned in Matthew 1 shows to us how God can change our ugly past and give us a better future. The genealogy didn’t mention, ‘Abraham was the father of Isaac (whose mother was Sarah). Isaac was the father of Jacob (whose mother was Rebecca)’. But did mention Tamar; who acted like a prostitute and slept with her father-in-law (Matt. 1:3; cf. Gen.38). Rahab; whom we’ve discussed as a prostitute from a godless nation (Matt. 1:5). Ruth; a Moabite princess- a pagan nation that descended from the incestuous relationship of Lot and his eldest daughter (Matt. 1:5). And Bathsheba; who had an extramarital affair with David (Matt. 1:6; cf. 2 Sam. 11).

Now our question, who is Ruth and why did God choose her?

Gathering our sources from Jewish materials, we discovered that it is most likely that Ruth might be a Moabite princess. And if Elimelech moved to Moab during the days when the judges ruled in Israel (Ruth 1:1-4), then there are chances that Ruth should be related to Eglon, king of Moab; the one whom the Lord gave the Israelites to for oppression (Judg. 3:12-30). And so, we agree to the fact that (though not found in scriptures, but a Talmud- just like the Torah, but more like the oral word of God being passed from generation to another cf. Deut. 6:7; 11:19; Ps. 78:5, 6) Ruth was a Moabite princess who was a granddaughter of Eglon, king of Moab, who himself was a grandson of Balak, king of Moab during Moses’ times (Numb. 22-24).

The Moabite women are often depicted negatively; as in Numbers 25:1-5, where they are blamed for causing the Israelites to worship Baal-Peop. Likewise, Solomon’s many foreign wives; including Moabite women are blamed for leading Solomon into worship of foreign deities, including the Moabite god Chemosh (1 Kings 11:1-8). In fact, God discouraged marriage with the Moabites (Deut. 23:3). So the Moabites were long-time enemies and oppressors of Israel and cursed by God. Yet God chose to weave the story of a young Moabite girl into the story of His Son.

What on earth would cause Elimelech to move his family to Moab of all places he could have gone to? Elimelech ought to have been familiar with the oppression of the Moabites on Israel, yet he chose to move there. He should had known from history that these people worshipped the deity Chemosh and practised child sacrifices; a kind of place you won’t want to raise your family.

I’m sure this was what challenged Ruth. She saw a loving and forgiving family that served a loving and forgiving God. Even when she lost her husband, she still saw Naomi’s love towards her. We Africans, especially my country Nigeria, can relate well to this. A tribe that practised child sacrifice, and Ruth lost her husband, we would blame her for the loss. But this simple act of love and forgiveness made her to say, “Your God will be my God.” (Ruth 1:16). She saw the difference and didn’t want to go back to her people (Ruth 1:16-18).

Now because of her positive response to the love of God and her loyalty to His daughter, Naomi, He chose her not only to become part of His family, but part of the lineage of His Son.

Hebrews 11: 6 ESV

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exist and that he rewards those who seek him.

 

God honoured and rewarded her for her faithfulness by making Boaz a kinsman redeemer to her.

We were once like Ruth- enemies of God (Rom. 5:10) and alienated from Him with no hope (Eph. 2:12), yet He chose to redeem us and to bring us into His family (Rev. 5:9).

 

DECLARATION: I AM CHOSEN TO BE REDEEMED BY GOD! THEREFORE, I HAVE A HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE!

 

FURTHER STUDY: RUTH 4